The Final Countdown

Ronnie had not been feeling like himself lately. It all began with a trip to the monthly local flea market. His partner, Jude, enjoyed antique shopping; Ronnie enjoyed the food and, of course, Jude. Often, there were plenty of vendors with used books. That was where he spent most of his time, searching through tables or boxes for treasure. Anything David Morrell or old detective novels came home with him.

The day Ronnie found the advent calendar, the sun was bright and a slight breeze spread the smell of fried food from the buildings on the fairgrounds, but otherwise it was unremarkable. Ronnie always assumed days of fate, the most important ones, would be dark and stormy just like in the movies.

The walk from the car to the entrance to the fairgrounds that houses the flea market had soaked his shirt and then his jacket with sweat. Ronnie wished he had stayed home and was reading a book. But Jude looked so happy, and it was hard to show his irritation; there was no way Ronnie wanted to ruin that smile. It did not stop him from complaining to himself, though. After walking the first aisle together, they parted at the end. Ronnie was still grumbling to himself when he noticed a stall called Samarra’s Bizarre with tables full of old books, and his irritation waned.

Engrossed in searching the tables, it took Ronnie a while to notice the gentleman in the back corner wearing a polo shirt and khakis. He must have stepped in while Ronnie was perusing the titles, he imagined. An unremarkable looking man, except for the eyes. Ronnie had never seen eyes quite like them; they shone brightly. The man with the bright eyes moved over to the table. “I see you are a book lover. Come on over here, I have something that might interest you,” the man said while he pulled a box from under the table. “This is a book lover’s dream.” He tapped the top of what appeared to be a black, wooden box. As Ronnie moved slowly towards the box, the man turned it around so he could see there were small, numbered doors on the front, each one decorated with a hand-painted Christmas wreath.

“You haven’t seen one like this. It is truly one of a kind. You won’t find any chocolate in there.”

“What will I find, then?” Ronnie was beginning to feel irritated; it was too hot inside the building, and he was still wearing his jacket, and this man was taking too long to get to the point.

The stall operator opened the box with the number one painted on it. He then pulled out a sheet of thin cream-colored paper:

I am empty, open me and you will see. To claim your prize, you must first fill me. Work your way through the doors labeled 1-25. Once you have started, you must finish or there will be a price. Follow the instructions and insert the requested object by midnight or roll the dice. You will receive a portion of an unpublished manuscript by your favorite author as payment. This is quite the prize.

First, go to Kringle’s Christmas Village and bring back a snow globe that plays Santa Baby. Open the door on the back of the calendar and place the object inside. Keep our game a secret. Some friendly advice; enjoy the drive and bring the love of your life with you.

“I am clearing out all my possessions. I do not have much longer in this life and no one to pass anything along to. I am going to set the money aside to go towards the care of my cat, Nicodemus.”

Not sure what to say at the moment, Ronnie pulled out his wallet and handed over a twenty and a five-dollar bill.

Ronnie picked up the wooden advent calendar with little effort and headed out of the tent.

Ronnie nodded to the man and headed out to the car to store the big box and his jacket before he went in search of Jude.

Early the following morning, Ronnie woke in their two-story mid century modern home and headed downstairs to the kitchen to make Jude breakfast in bed. As she enjoyed the eggs, toast and bacon, Ronnie figured this would be the best time to bring up venturing out while still keeping his agenda to find the snow globe secret. “How about we take a drive out to Kringle’s Christmas Village today?”

“What’s gotten into you, love?” Jude stopped eating and turned towards Ronnie.

“Just in the mood for some Christmas cheer with you my dear.” Leaning over he kissed Jude on the cheek.

Late morning, Ronnie and Jude made their way down Main Street of Kringle’s Christmas Village headed towards the snow globe shop. They admired the window displays that all featured Santa Claus regardless of what was sold inside. The store fronts were covered in wood logs that resembled Santa’s workshop, and the streetlights looked like old fashioned street lamps and played a Christmas tune. Overall, the holiday cheer was palpable, and the couple held hands until they entered the snow globe shop.

The shop was brightly lit, with three walls full of glistening Santa themed snow globes. There were three display islands set up in the middle of the store with signage making the “Santa Baby” snow globe easy to locate. Ronnie needed to get his assignment out of the way because Jude just wanted to share a funnel cake with him and visit the miniature museum with the hand-blown glass shop as the last stop. Later that afternoon, they returned to their car with bag laden arms and traces of powdered sugar on Ronnie’s jacket.

After Jude was in bed, Ronnie placed the snow globe into the back of the advent calendar cabinet. He opened the drawer labeled two and found ten pages of an unnamed manuscript written by his favorite author. Along with the ten pages were coordinates 44° 29’ 46” N 89° 48’ 27” W as well as instructions:

Stay for the night and visit the Rudolph Grotto Gardens. This is a scavenger hunt in the Wonder Cave at the fifth station. A necklace that carries a shell will be your destination. Bring it home and place it in the cabinet. The time and money will be well spent. Take your time to enjoy the wonderment.

Having looked up the coordinates online, Ronnie discovered they were for Rudolph, Wisconsin. He would have to make overnight reservations since the drive would take up most of the morning.

“I am loving this adventurous side of you, hon.” Jude smiled and kissed his cheek, “Give me thirty minutes.”

During the drive, it was difficult for Ronnie to keep his eyes on the road as the sun was shining right on Jude, and she was glowing. He could not stop looking over at her. Jude was still the most beautiful person he had ever seen, and the years had just added to that beauty. The trip could go on forever as far as Ronnie was concerned. Every minute with her was heaven.

When they arrived home the following morning, Jude practically glided across the room while taking their dirty laundry to the basement. When she was out of sight, Ronnie placed the necklace in the back of the cabinet and closed the door. He quickly moved to the front of the piece and opened the hand-painted drawer marked 3. With the ten pages is a note:

Today’s request will feed your soul. You will need to start the BBQ, but before you light it, hold aside a briquette or two. Place them in the box when you are alone but first, dance in the moonlight, your love and you.

That night, Jude and Ronnie danced like they used to when they were much younger. The moon was full and the merriment was plentiful, so the dancing continued late into the night. Ronnie did not remember to place the briquettes in the cabinet until he woke up the following morning. In a panic he quickly threw them in hoping that he still got his pages. They were there in drawer 4 along with this note:

The payment for day four will be an easy score. Take your love out for a wintery adventure or two. Just watch your step, if you know what’s good for you. Throw a snowball, ice skate, make a snowman or walk around looking at the holiday lights. In a snowbank you will find a pink mitten. Place it in the cabinet tonight. Forgetfulness will get you nowhere, keep that in sight.

Having made breakfast and extra strong coffee, he carried a tray laden with their breakfast fare up to Jude. When he was at the third step from the top he tripped, spilling the coffee, eggs, bacon and toast all over the upstairs landing. As he cleaned up the mess, he wondered if his late placement of the briquettes had anything to do with the spill. He quickly came to the conclusion he was being superstitious. Accidents happen. Nothing to worry about. As he headed to the bedroom he decided he should take Jude out to breakfast before ice skating, kissing Jude on the forehead as he told her of his plans.

“We haven’t done that in years. Let me dig out our old skates and it’s a date.”

The Pancake Palace was as delicious as Ronnie remembered. A large stack of pancakes with butter and syrup, coffee and, most importantly, Jude, gave him the fuel he needed to skate at the local pond. To Ronnie, Jude was as gorgeous as ever, twirling around in her skates, her cheeks glowing pink, melting his heart with her smile. The sun reflected off the snow, the laughing children, the families drinking hot chocolate, all adding to the festive atmosphere. He watched as Jude headed to the edge of the pond. She called back to him, “There is something pink in the snow bank.” While looking back, Jude tripped over a ridge in the ice, spilling across it. Ronnie’s heart dropped as he quickly headed towards her, terrified this was his fault. If Jude was hurt because of his forgetfulness, he would never forgive himself. That was until he heard Jude laughing.

Once Ronnie reached her, he was even more relieved to see she was relatively unscathed. He helped Jude to her feet. As she shook the ice shavings from her clothes, she grimaced slightly. “I think I might have twisted my ankle. Guess I’m not made of rubber anymore. Before we call it a day, can you be a dear and check out that snow bank? I have to know what is in it.”

Ignoring the guilt curdling in his stomach, Ronnie skated a few feet to the bank, digging out a pink glove. Jude laughed when he held it up just like a prized fish. “A glove of course,” she gets out between her fits of laughter. When Ronnie skated to her they kissed, and without speaking, skated back to the other end of the pond holding hands to help support her on her bad ankle. Jude seemed fine this time, but what if the next injury was much worse?

He tried to put the thought aside and instead focus on his wife and the fun they had.

Ronnie soon discovered there were many days like that one. Days full of spending time with Jude and wintery holiday fun. Even though Ronnie occasionally drove the church bus, retirement had its perks. He followed the advent calendar’s directions. Every night he checked the numbered door and there would be a new ten-page bundle and a small errand. They went browsing antique stores to find a doll, discovered a spent bullet casing made into a necklace at a yard sale and contacted a collector of haunted objects for an Elf on the Shelf. Every night, Ronnie placed the items in the back of the cabinet when he had the opportunity, never missing the deadline nor wondering why Jude could not know.

This quest is quite unsavory, you will want to go alone. To the butcher shop you will need to roam. A pig’s heart is required for this to end. Enjoy the final day, my friend.

A trip to the butcher shop did not sound too bad, but asking for a pig’s heart embarrassed Ronnie. The threat of something terrible happening outweighed that embarrassment though. “How about some steaks tonight my love?” He called upstairs to Jude.

“I’m off to the shop. Be back soon.” The butcher shop was bustling with late holiday shoppers. When it was Ronnie’s turn at the counter, he first asked for two New York strip steaks. After they were wrapped up and placed on the counter the butcher asked him if there was anything else. Reluctantly he told the butcher he was looking for a pig’s heart.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” the butcher said as he quickly stepped into the back and returned with a brown paper wrapped package. When Ronnie was handed his order over the top of the glass case, he saw the same shine in the butcher’s eyes that he saw in the man from the flea market. But it was gone as quickly as it came. As Ronnie walked to the door, the butcher called out, “Enjoy the ride.”

Once the day was over and he heard Jude sleeping next to him, Ronnie made his way slowly downstairs, slipped the package holding the heart into the advent calendar, retrieved the last set of pages, slid back into bed with Jude, and set his alarm for the early morning choir trip.